WholeHearted Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 I need some advice about which type of visa to apply for. I'm a US citizen, over 50, and I'm still located in the US. I'll be going to Thailand in May. I have a one-way ticket to Thailand at present. I can show that I have enough funds. Here is my plan and my hope: 1) I will study for a month (TEFL/TESOL/ CELTA). (I have an acceptance letter from a school.) 2) I will then relax and travel in Thailand for a few weeks. 3) I will land a part-time job (teaching English), and will work for a few months to get some experience and learn the ropes. 4) In October 2010 I will get a full-time job. 5) I will teach for a year or so until I'm ready to retire, and then I'll apply for a retirement visa. Should I be applying for a multiple-entry Tourist Visa with a 6-month validity? How good are my chances of getting it? Which consulate in the US is it best to apply to? Will I be okay applying for a visa with a one-way ticket, or do I need to buy a return ticket to the US, and for what date? Would it be to my benefit instead to buy a plane ticket to Vientienne or another location outside of Thailand, to show that I have an exit plan? What are they really looking for when they ask to see a return ticket? Will I be able to work part-time in Thailand with a Tourist Visa, assuming that a school will give me a work permit? (I don't think a school will want to help me get a Non-Immigrant B visa if I only want to teach there part-time -- but I'm not sure how this works.) Is there any way I could apply now for a Non-Immigrant visa before I leave, under these circumstances, and hope to get it? Any help will be much appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonititan Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 Will I be able to work part-time in Thailand with a Tourist Visa, assuming that a school will give me a work permit? (I don't think a school will want to help me get a Non-Immigrant B visa if I only want to teach there part-time -- but I'm not sure how this works.) I know nothing of the legality aspect of your question. I just want to point out that it may be difficult to find a part time English-teaching job from only about July-September. That will be in the middle of the semester, so it's not an ideal time to be job hunting. You might want to have a plan B or some backup cash just in case. Have you checked out the Teaching Forum on this website? You should be able to get a lot of helpful information there. Good luck! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lopburi3 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 You can not work on a tourist visa at all - a work permit is never issued on that type of entry. If you plan to work you will need a non immigrant B visa which you can easily obtain from a nearby Consulate after getting the paperwork. You can travel on a one-way ticket but it will be up to the specific Consulate rules (and your passport country) as to if you require a ticket prior to issue of a visa. Most say you do but often this is only for third country nationals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
guavagirl Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 You may be able to get an Non-immigrant E visa. Not sure all of the requirements for this though. But you do have a letter of acceptance from a school so that may be enough. As for working, you can not legally work without a work permit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WholeHearted Posted March 31, 2010 Author Share Posted March 31, 2010 If you plan to work you will need a non immigrant B visa which you can easily obtain from a nearby Consulate after getting the paperwork. I'm sorry, could you please clarify what you mean by "paperwork?" I'm assuming you mean that I'd need to have a written job offer in order to get a non-immigrant B visa. Is that correct? I apologize for my lack of knowledge. Is there even the remotest chance that if I told the Thai consulate that I've been accepted into a month-long TEFL course and that I plan to seek employment after that, that I might stand a chance of getting a non-immigrant B visa in that way? Otherwise, I know there are some educational programs that qualify for the non-immigrant "B" visa. However, I don't think I could pick up part-time employment under that visa, could I? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mario2008 Posted March 31, 2010 Share Posted March 31, 2010 If a job offer will be enough to get a non-B depends on the consulate where you will be applying. In Asia itself, it is not enough! There you will need to show you have applied for a work permit in Thailand itself. You can come on a tourist visa or ED-visa with the etter from the school. After that you can find a job and when you have one apply for the work permit. The labour office will give you a WP3 form, which you will need, together with your contract and leter from the school asking for a non-B visa to get a non-B visa from a neighbouring country. Only a work permit allows you to work. On a Non-B you can get a work permit, on a ED-vsa you cannot. But you can apply for the WP on it and with the WP3 you will than get apply for the non-B in a neighbouring country.a Ed-visa or tourist visa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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